<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote"><br><u></u>
<div style="height:100%;margin:0;padding:0;width:100%;background-color:#ffffff">
<span class="m_7877474764361811622mcnPreviewText" style="display:none;font-size:0px;line-height:0px;max-height:0px;max-width:0px;opacity:0;overflow:hidden">Join us on October 13 for the Next Event in the Series</span>
<center>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" width="100%" id="m_7877474764361811622bodyTable" style="border-collapse:collapse;height:100%;margin:0;padding:0;width:100%;background-color:#ffffff">
<tbody><tr>
<td align="center" valign="top" id="m_7877474764361811622bodyCell" style="height:100%;margin:0;padding:0;width:100%;border-top:0">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody><tr>
<td align="center" valign="top" id="m_7877474764361811622templatePreheader" style="background:#ffffff none no-repeat center/cover;background-color:#ffffff;background-image:none;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position:center;background-size:cover;border-top:0;border-bottom:0;padding-top:9px;padding-bottom:9px">
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" class="m_7877474764361811622templateContainer" style="border-collapse:collapse;max-width:600px!important">
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" style="padding-top:9px">
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:100%;min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse" width="100%" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnTextContentContainer">
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0;padding-right:18px;padding-bottom:9px;padding-left:18px;word-break:break-word;color:#00497b;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;line-height:150%;text-align:left">
<div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif">Join us for the eighth<br>
<a href="https://aspencsg.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b551d018f08dff51178c763b7&id=cfd134d1d3&e=fe142dac21" style="color:#00aeef;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank"><strong><em>Rural Opportunity and Development Session</em></strong></a></span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="top" id="m_7877474764361811622templateHeader" style="background:#ffffff none no-repeat center/cover;background-color:#ffffff;background-image:none;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position:center;background-size:cover;border-top:0;border-bottom:0;padding-top:9px;padding-bottom:0">
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" class="m_7877474764361811622templateContainer" style="border-collapse:collapse;max-width:600px!important">
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnBoxedTextContentContainer">
<tbody><tr>
<td style="padding-top:9px;padding-left:18px;padding-bottom:9px;padding-right:18px">
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnTextContentContainer" width="100%" style="min-width:100%!important;background-color:#1c7aa6;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnTextContent" style="padding:18px;color:#ffffff;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;text-align:center;word-break:break-word;line-height:150%">
<h1 style="text-align:center;display:block;margin:0;padding:0;color:#00497b;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:37px;font-style:normal;font-weight:bold;line-height:100%;letter-spacing:-1px"><span style="color:#ffffff"><strong>Shared Prosperity:<br>
<span style="font-size:30px">Building Power Towards an<br>
Equitable Rural Economy</span></strong></span></h1>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" style="padding-top:9px">
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:100%;min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse" width="100%" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnTextContentContainer">
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0;padding-right:18px;padding-bottom:9px;padding-left:18px;word-break:break-word;color:#202020;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:16px;line-height:150%;text-align:left">
<div style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:24px"><strong>Wednesday, October 13, 2021</strong><br>
<strong>11:30 - 12:30 PM Eastern Time</strong></span><br>
<span style="font-size:18px">Followed by Peer-Learning Breakout Sessions from 12:30 to 1:00 PM</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="top" id="m_7877474764361811622templateUpperColumns" style="background:#ffffff none no-repeat center/cover;background-color:#ffffff;background-image:none;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position:center;background-size:cover;border-top:0;border-bottom:0;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" class="m_7877474764361811622templateContainer" style="border-collapse:collapse;max-width:600px!important">
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top">
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="300" class="m_7877474764361811622columnWrapper" style="border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top" class="m_7877474764361811622columnContainer"></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="300" class="m_7877474764361811622columnWrapper" style="border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top" class="m_7877474764361811622columnContainer"></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="top" id="m_7877474764361811622templateBody" style="background:#ffffff none no-repeat center/cover;background-color:#ffffff;background-image:none;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position:center;background-size:cover;border-top:0;border-bottom:0;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0">
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" class="m_7877474764361811622templateContainer" style="border-collapse:collapse;max-width:600px!important">
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="padding-top:0;padding-right:18px;padding-bottom:18px;padding-left:18px" valign="top" align="center">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:separate!important;border-radius:3px;background-color:#1c7aa6">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="middle" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;padding:15px">
<a class="m_7877474764361811622mcnButton" title="Register for the Virtual Exchange" href="https://aspencsg.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b551d018f08dff51178c763b7&id=c1bdf69979&e=fe142dac21" style="font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:100%;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;color:#ffffff;display:block" target="_blank">Register for the Virtual Exchange</a>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" style="padding-top:9px">
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:100%;min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse" width="100%" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnTextContentContainer">
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnTextContent" style="padding:0px 18px 9px;font-size:13px;line-height:125%;word-break:break-word;color:#202020;font-family:Helvetica;text-align:left">
<span style="font-size:16px">Building power and capacity within groups on the economic and social margins is a crucial component for strong, healthy, and economically diverse rural communities. In too many places for too long, Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color in rural society have been left out or shut out of important economic decisions, exacerbating numerous structural inequities. For instance, the <a href="https://aspencsg.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b551d018f08dff51178c763b7&id=deb715e6ff&e=fe142dac21" style="color:#004d96;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco</a> estimates that racial and gender gaps in earnings, hours worked, educational attainment, and employment cost the United States $2.6 trillion of GDP in 2019.<br>
<br>
What will it take for government, private sector, and civic institutions to intentionally identify and adopt policies, practices, and regulations that increase access to economic opportunity for Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and other populations of color in rural places and Native nations? <br>
<br>
Join us on October 13 at 11:30 AM ET for <em>Shared Prosperity: Driving Change Towards an Equitable Rural Economy</em>, held in conjunction with Rural LISC’s annual National Seminar. Come hear stories of power and capacity building at the community level and take away lessons on how rural places have united to become more inclusive and economically vibrant. This fully virtual session will explore the positive economic and social potential that comes with improving racial equity in rural places.</span><br>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="padding-top:0;padding-right:18px;padding-bottom:18px;padding-left:18px" valign="top" align="center">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:separate!important;border-radius:3px;background-color:#1c7aa6">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="middle" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;padding:15px">
<a class="m_7877474764361811622mcnButton" title="Join us for Shared Prosperity on October 13" href="https://aspencsg.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b551d018f08dff51178c763b7&id=396bd11fe4&e=fe142dac21" style="font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:100%;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;color:#ffffff;display:block" target="_blank">Join us for Shared Prosperity on October 13</a>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;table-layout:fixed!important">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="min-width:100%;padding:18px">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="min-width:100%;border-top:2px solid #eaeaea;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody><tr>
<td>
<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" style="padding-top:9px">
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:100%;min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse" width="100%" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnTextContentContainer">
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnTextContent" style="padding:0px 18px 9px;color:#e42423;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;word-break:break-word;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:13px;line-height:125%;text-align:left">
<h2 style="text-align:left;display:block;margin:0;padding:0;color:#e42423;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:22px;font-style:normal;font-weight:bold;line-height:125%;letter-spacing:normal"><font color="#008080"><strong>Our Panelists</strong></font></h2>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" style="padding:9px">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnCaptionRightContentOuter" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top" style="padding:0 9px">
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnCaptionRightImageContentContainer" width="132" style="border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody><tr>
<td align="center" valign="top">
<img alt="" src="https://mcusercontent.com/b551d018f08dff51178c763b7/images/817a6200-faec-d07f-7da2-6257152112f7.jpg" width="132" style="max-width:190px;border:1px solid;height:auto;outline:none;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:bottom" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnImage">
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<table class="m_7877474764361811622mcnCaptionRightTextContentContainer" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="396" style="border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnTextContent" style="line-height:125%;word-break:break-word;color:#202020;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:13px;text-align:left">
<h3 style="display:block;margin:0;padding:0;color:#00497b;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;font-weight:bold;line-height:125%;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:left"><font color="#008080"><span style="font-size:24px"><strong>Calvin Allen</strong></span></font></h3>
<span style="font-size:17px"><strong>Senior Program Director<br>
MDC Rural Forward Program</strong></span>
<p style="line-height:125%;margin:10px 0;padding:0;color:#202020;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:13px;text-align:left"><span style="font-size:16px">Calvin manages Rural Forward’s “Beyond Local” portfolio, strengthening key state and national relationships, providing technical assistance, and supporting our local partners in Healthy Places NC counties. Rural Forward is a program of MDC. For over twenty-five years, Calvin has worked in the nonprofit sector as an administrator, trainer, facilitator, advocate, and consultant, primarily around organizational development, rural economic development, leadership, and conflict management. Most recently, he worked for the Golden LEAF Foundation’s community grants making programs as a program officer. He also served as deputy director at the Southern Rural Development Initiative, director of the National Community Forestry Service Center at the Conservation Fund, and associate director at the Dispute Settlement Center of Orange County.</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" style="padding:9px">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnCaptionRightContentOuter" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top" style="padding:0 9px">
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnCaptionRightImageContentContainer" width="132" style="border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody><tr>
<td align="center" valign="top">
<img alt="" src="https://mcusercontent.com/b551d018f08dff51178c763b7/images/c65d4c68-bb7e-4a9a-4389-247b95fd9883.jpg" width="132" style="max-width:450px;border:1px solid;height:auto;outline:none;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:bottom" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnImage">
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<table class="m_7877474764361811622mcnCaptionRightTextContentContainer" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="396" style="border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnTextContent" style="line-height:125%;word-break:break-word;color:#202020;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:13px;text-align:left">
<h3 style="display:block;margin:0;padding:0;color:#00497b;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;font-weight:bold;line-height:125%;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:left"><font color="#008080"><span style="font-size:24px"><strong>Gisela Salgado</strong></span></font></h3>
<span style="font-size:17px"><strong>Director of Leadership Development Programs<br>
California Coalition for Rural Housing</strong></span><br>
<br>
<span style="font-size:16px">Gisela leads program publicity and outreach, intern and host agency recruitment and placement, development of intern and host agency training and technical assistance, partnership agreements with outside trainers, site visits, monitoring, evaluation of program performance, and fund development. To date, she has graduated 78 students from the program, built partnerships with NeighborWorks America, the Washington State Farmworker Housing Trust, and the California State VISTA Americorps Program. She has successfully overseen program expansion to Washington State and Oregon; currently supporting Chicanos Por La Causa in Arizona implement an internship program based on our model. She is fluent in Spanish and, coming from an immigrant and underprivileged background has a strong cultural and social affinity for ensuring better opportunities and quality of life for under-represented communities.</span>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" style="padding:9px">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnCaptionRightContentOuter" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top" style="padding:0 9px">
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnCaptionRightImageContentContainer" width="132" style="border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody><tr>
<td align="center" valign="top">
<img alt="" src="https://mcusercontent.com/b551d018f08dff51178c763b7/images/38cfc0f5-9cac-d47e-60ac-eb3bdf8e4334.jpg" width="132" style="max-width:297px;border:1px solid;height:auto;outline:none;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:bottom" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnImage">
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<table class="m_7877474764361811622mcnCaptionRightTextContentContainer" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="396" style="border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnTextContent" style="line-height:125%;word-break:break-word;color:#202020;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:13px;text-align:left">
<h3 style="display:block;margin:0;padding:0;color:#00497b;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;font-weight:bold;line-height:125%;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:left"><font color="#008080"><span style="font-size:24px"><strong>Chester B. Williams </strong></span></font></h3>
<h6 style="display:block;margin:0;padding:0"><span style="font-size:17px"><strong>Chief Executive Officer<br>
A Better Chance, A Better Community (ABC2)</strong></span></h6>
<p style="line-height:125%;margin:10px 0;padding:0;color:#202020;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:13px;text-align:left"><span style="font-size:16px">ABC2 connects rural communities with resources and opportunities to activate youth power and advocate for realistic solutions and healthier lifestyles. Chester's official title is “Founder/Chief Empowerment Officer”, and he also supports the ABC2 World Changers, the youth of ABC2. Together ABC2 created a large Community Garden to provide fresh seasonal produce for the Enfield Farmer’s Market. Proceeds from farm sales go directly to scholarships and training programs for the youth and teens in the community, continuing a loop of investment and commitment that is evident in all Chester's efforts. The World Changers also host Teen Unity Summits, bringing together young people to highlight social issues impacting teens today, as well as cooking classes with younger children and their families.</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table><table style="min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="padding-top:9px" valign="top">
<table style="max-width:100%;min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnTextContentContainer" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" align="left">
<tbody><tr>
<td class="m_7877474764361811622mcnTextContent" style="padding:0px 18px 9px;color:#e42423;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;word-break:break-word;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:13px;line-height:125%;text-align:left" valign="top">
<h2 style="text-align:left;display:block;margin:0;padding:0;color:#e42423;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:22px;font-style:normal;font-weight:bold;line-height:125%;letter-spacing:normal"><font color="#008080"><strong>Context Presentation</strong></font></h2>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" style="padding:9px">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnCaptionRightContentOuter" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top" style="padding:0 9px">
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnCaptionRightImageContentContainer" width="132" style="border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody><tr>
<td align="center" valign="top">
<img alt="" src="https://mcusercontent.com/b551d018f08dff51178c763b7/images/9985355a-d33e-4039-7c0e-f87dc40f63df.jpg" width="132" style="max-width:516px;border:1px solid;height:auto;outline:none;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:bottom" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnImage">
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<table class="m_7877474764361811622mcnCaptionRightTextContentContainer" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="396" style="border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnTextContent" style="line-height:125%;word-break:break-word;color:#202020;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:13px;text-align:left">
<p style="text-align:left;line-height:125%;margin:10px 0;padding:0;color:#202020;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:13px"><span style="color:#008080"><span style="font-size:24px"><strong>Bina Patel Shirimali</strong></span></span><br>
<span style="font-size:17px"><strong>Research Manager for Community Development<br>
San Francisco Federal Reserve</strong></span><br>
<br>
<span style="font-size:16px">Bina manages the community development research team at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, which conducts research on the structural barriers to economic opportunity for low-income communities and communities of color. In this role, she provides guidance for the department’s research agenda and publications that advance racial equity, healthy and resilient communities, a thriving labor force, and inclusive financial systems. Prior to the SF Fed, Dr. Shrimali worked at the Alameda County Public Health Department where she led multisector collaboration and place-based projects. Dr. Shrimali received her Doctorate in Public Health from UC Berkeley.</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" style="padding-top:9px">
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:100%;min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse" width="100%" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnTextContentContainer">
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnTextContent" style="padding:0px 18px 9px;color:#e42423;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;word-break:break-word;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:13px;line-height:125%;text-align:left">
<h2 style="text-align:left;display:block;margin:0;padding:0;color:#e42423;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:22px;font-style:normal;font-weight:bold;line-height:125%;letter-spacing:normal"><span style="color:#008080"><strong>Our Moderator</strong></span></h2>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" style="padding:9px">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnCaptionRightContentOuter" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top" style="padding:0 9px">
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnCaptionRightImageContentContainer" width="132" style="border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody><tr>
<td align="center" valign="top">
<img alt="" src="https://mcusercontent.com/b551d018f08dff51178c763b7/images/75eb3b19-02a6-485a-98b4-5c67aa9f45eb.jpg" width="132" style="max-width:374px;border:1px solid;height:auto;outline:none;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:bottom" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnImage">
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<table class="m_7877474764361811622mcnCaptionRightTextContentContainer" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="396" style="border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnTextContent" style="line-height:125%;word-break:break-word;color:#202020;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:13px;text-align:left">
<h3 style="display:block;margin:0;padding:0;color:#00497b;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;font-weight:bold;line-height:125%;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:left"><font color="#008080"><span style="font-size:24px"><strong>Bonita Robertson-Hardy</strong></span></font></h3>
<span style="font-size:17px"><strong>Associate</strong></span><strong style="font-size:17px"> Director</strong><br>
<strong><span style="font-size:17px">Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group</span></strong><br>
<br>
<span style="font-size:16px">Bonita is a workforce and economic development professional committed to connecting the public sector, private sector, and nonprofit communities. Through her work, she builds relationships, utilizes her voice to influence policy, and advocates for equity and opportunity in public and private organizations. Prior to joining the Aspen Institute, Robertson worked at the Greater New Orleans Foundation (GNOF), the community foundation for 13 rural and urban parishes in the southeast Louisiana region. During her eight years at GNOF, she served as Director of Workforce Initiatives as well as Director of Civic Leadership. In these roles, she developed employer-led workforce partnerships to train job seekers and incumbent workers, established an initiative to provide post-hire supportive services for employees at their worksites, led the strategic planning process for the equitable revitalization of an economic development zone within downtown New Orleans, and worked to support and catalyze progressive initiatives to promote growth and equity throughout the region.</span>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;table-layout:fixed!important">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="min-width:100%;padding:18px">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="min-width:100%;border-top:2px solid #eaeaea;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody><tr>
<td>
<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="padding-top:0;padding-right:18px;padding-bottom:18px;padding-left:18px" valign="top" align="center">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:separate!important;border-radius:3px;background-color:#1c7aa6">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="middle" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;padding:15px">
<a class="m_7877474764361811622mcnButton" title="Register for the October Virtual Exchange" href="https://aspencsg.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b551d018f08dff51178c763b7&id=35cc11e61c&e=fe142dac21" style="font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:100%;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;color:#ffffff;display:block" target="_blank">Register for the October Virtual Exchange</a>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;table-layout:fixed!important">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="min-width:100%;padding:18px">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="min-width:100%;border-top:2px solid #eaeaea;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody><tr>
<td>
<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" style="padding-top:9px">
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:100%;min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse" width="100%" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnTextContentContainer">
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnTextContent" style="padding:0px 18px 9px;color:#e42423;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;word-break:break-word;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:13px;line-height:125%;text-align:left">
<h2 style="text-align:left;display:block;margin:0;padding:0;color:#e42423;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:22px;font-style:normal;font-weight:bold;line-height:125%;letter-spacing:normal"><span style="color:#008080"><strong>About the ROAD Sessions</strong></span></h2>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" style="padding-top:9px">
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:100%;min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse" width="100%" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnTextContentContainer">
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0;padding-right:18px;padding-bottom:9px;padding-left:18px;word-break:break-word;color:#202020;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:13px;line-height:125%;text-align:left">
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" style="padding-top:9px">
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:100%;min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse" width="100%" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnTextContentContainer">
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0;padding-right:18px;padding-bottom:9px;padding-left:18px;word-break:break-word;color:#202020;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:13px;line-height:125%;text-align:left">
<span style="font-size:16px">The <a href="https://aspencsg.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b551d018f08dff51178c763b7&id=2783146651&e=fe142dac21" style="color:#004d96;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank"><strong>ROAD Sessions</strong></a> highlight and unpack rural development ideas and strategies that are critical in response to COVID-19 and to long-term rebuilding and recovery. ROAD Sessions feature stories of on-the-ground practitioners who have experience, wisdom, and savvy to share. The series reflects and emphasizes the full diversity of rural America, spotlights rural America’s assets and challenges, and lifts voices and lived experiences from a wide range of rural communities and economies. Each Session includes an added opportunity for peer exchange. Overall, the ROAD Sessions aim to infuse practitioner stories and lessons into rural narratives, policymaking, and practice across the country, and to strengthen the network of organizations serving rural communities and regions. </span>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;table-layout:fixed!important">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="min-width:100%;padding:18px">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="min-width:100%;border-top:2px solid #eaeaea;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody><tr>
<td>
<span></span>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table><table style="min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="padding-top:9px" valign="top">
<table style="max-width:100%;min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnTextContentContainer" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" align="left">
<tbody><tr>
<td class="m_7877474764361811622mcnTextContent" style="padding:0px 18px 9px;color:#000000;word-break:break-word;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:13px;line-height:125%;text-align:left" valign="top">
<div style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12px">The ROAD Sessions virtual exchanges are co-designed and hosted by Thrive Rural – an effort of the Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation – in collaboration with the Housing Assistance Council, the Rural Community Assistance Partnership, Rural LISC and the Federal Reserve Board. </span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table><table style="min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="padding:9px" valign="top">
<table style="min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" align="left">
<tbody><tr>
<td style="padding-right:9px;padding-left:9px;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;text-align:center" valign="top">
<img alt="" src="https://mcusercontent.com/b551d018f08dff51178c763b7/images/a18bb896-2e2a-32c2-e4ad-f7900ac48e67.jpg" style="max-width:1200px;padding-bottom:0;display:inline!important;vertical-align:bottom;border:0;height:auto;outline:none;text-decoration:none" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnImage" width="564" align="middle">
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="top" id="m_7877474764361811622templateLowerColumns" style="background:#ffffff none no-repeat center/cover;background-color:#ffffff;background-image:none;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position:center;background-size:cover;border-top:0;border-bottom:2px solid #eaeaea;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:9px">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" class="m_7877474764361811622templateContainer" style="border-collapse:collapse;max-width:600px!important">
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top">
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="300" class="m_7877474764361811622columnWrapper" style="border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top" class="m_7877474764361811622columnContainer"></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="300" class="m_7877474764361811622columnWrapper" style="border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top" class="m_7877474764361811622columnContainer"></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="top" id="m_7877474764361811622templateFooter" style="background:#ffffff none no-repeat center/cover;background-color:#ffffff;background-image:none;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position:center;background-size:cover;border-top:0;border-bottom:0;padding-top:9px;padding-bottom:9px">
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" class="m_7877474764361811622templateContainer" style="border-collapse:collapse;max-width:600px!important">
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top"><table style="min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="padding:9px" valign="top">
<table style="min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" align="left">
<tbody><tr>
<td style="padding-right:9px;padding-left:9px;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;text-align:center" valign="top">
<img alt="" src="https://mcusercontent.com/b551d018f08dff51178c763b7/images/2fb249d3-303f-44ef-ad65-913b8f6cc45e.jpg" style="max-width:1200px;padding-bottom:0;display:inline!important;vertical-align:bottom;border:0;height:auto;outline:none;text-decoration:none" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnImage" width="236.88" align="middle">
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table><table style="min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="padding-top:9px" valign="top">
<table style="max-width:100%;min-width:100%;border-collapse:collapse" class="m_7877474764361811622mcnTextContentContainer" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" align="left">
<tbody><tr>
<td class="m_7877474764361811622mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0;padding-right:18px;padding-bottom:9px;padding-left:18px;word-break:break-word;color:#aaaaaa;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;line-height:150%;text-align:center" valign="top">
<em>Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group</em><br>
You are receiving this email because you have partnered with the Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group (CSG), registered for or attended an event sponsored by Aspen CSG, or elected to receive alerts from networks managed by Aspen CSG.<br>
<br>
<strong>Our mailing address is:</strong><br>
2300 N Street NW<br>
Suite 700<br>
Washington, DC 20037<br>
<br>
Want to change how you receive these emails?<br>
You can <a href="https://aspencsg.us7.list-manage.com/profile?u=b551d018f08dff51178c763b7&id=85d536586b&e=fe142dac21&c=92e3ff4661" style="color:#656565;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">update your preferences</a> or <a href="https://aspencsg.us7.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=b551d018f08dff51178c763b7&id=85d536586b&e=fe142dac21&c=92e3ff4661" style="color:#656565;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">unsubscribe from this list</a>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
<img src="https://aspencsg.us7.list-manage.com/track/open.php?u=b551d018f08dff51178c763b7&id=92e3ff4661&e=fe142dac21" height="1" width="1" alt=""></div>
</div></div>